Philadelphia Police to test video cameras attached to cops

Should Philly cops be equipped with little video cameras that could record their every move? The Police Department is giving it a shot, as the Philadelphia Daily News reported. Taser International, the makers of the cameras, say the technology could protect officers against false citizen complaints. But, says Police Commissioner Charles Ramsay, the equipment is expensive and audio recording would violate […]

Taser International, the makers of the cameras, say the technology could protect officers against false citizen complaints. But, says Police Commissioner Charles Ramsay, the equipment is expensive and audio recording would violate Pennsylvania’s wiretap laws. The police union also opposes the idea.

The small video camera mounts on an officer’s glasses, hat or collar and captures every moment of audio and visual footage while a cop is at a scene. Philadelphia police are getting about a half dozen to test, said Commissioner Charles Ramsey…

The cameras cost about $1,000 per officer and Taser provides departments with free one-year access to Evidence.com, which departments can use to upload and store their videos. [more]

Juliana Reyes has been covering the Philadelphia tech scene since 2012. She's co-president of the Asian American Journalists Association Philadelphia chapter and a two-time Philadelphia News Award winner for "Community Reporting of the Year." The Bryn Mawr College grad lives in West Philly, likes her food spicy and wears jumpsuits often.